Camilla is Anglican, and her wedding to Andrew Parker Bowles took place in an Anglican church. She's divorced from him; the marriage wasn't annulled. Considering that it was a C of E wedding and Charles is in line to be the head of the C of E, which doesn't condone remarriage to a person who was involved in the breakup of the first marriage - as Charles was with respect to the Parker Bowles marriage - it's going to be interesting to see how the church rationalises this.

I suppose the feeling is that he's old enough and his son is popular enough that it doesn't really matter what he does because he's becoming more and more irrelevant - the Queen is still healthy and popular, and William is making headlines all the time. And if his current situation is creating problems and questions about finances, then marrying will put a stop to some of them. It'll certainly be interesting to see how things like titles and public appearances are handled.

well to all the naysayers out there, it was just confirmed by buckingham palace that the Queen has given her blessing and that they are engaged to be married. all and all i'm not shocked b/c i saw this one coming.

[QUOTE=Elspeth]Camilla is Anglican, and her wedding to Andrew Parker Bowles took place in an Anglican church. She's divorced from him; the marriage wasn't annulled. Considering that it was a C of E wedding and Charles is in line to be the head of the C of E, which doesn't condone remarriage to a person who was involved in the breakup of the first marriage - as Charles was with respect to the Parker Bowles marriage - it's going to be interesting to see how the church rationalises this.
QUOTE]

Prince Charles is set to marry his long-term partner Camilla Parker Bowles, Clarence House says.

No wedding date has been confirmed at this stage, but reports have suggested 6 April is one possible date.

The move will end years of speculation on a relationship which has spanned the decades since they first met in 1971.

The Prince of Wales, who is the heir to the throne, was previously married to Diana, Princess of Wales, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

The princess famously referred to Mrs Parker Bowles as one of the contributing factors in the breakdown of her marriage to Charles.

Religious issues

The couple, who had two sons - princes William and Harry - had divorced when Diana died in Paris, eight years ago.

Conservative leader Michael Howard said he was "delighted" at the news, but Downing Street has refused to comment until a full statement is released by Clarence House.

Mrs Parker Bowles' current position has meant that her status was dogged with problems, including her seating at social functions away from her partner.
Last June, Mrs Parker Bowles was mentioned in the Prince's accounts, which marked a new realm of acceptance.

The marriage is likely to be a sensitive issue because Mrs Parker Bowles is divorced and her former husband is still alive.

If he became king, Charles would be the supreme governor of the Church of England and some Anglicans remain opposed to the remarriage of divorcees.

The church is officially neutral on the issue, but former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey recently urged the couple to marry.

BBC Royal Correspondent Nicholas Witchell said: "This is a step not without considerable risk by the Royal Family.

Legislation change?

"They will be watching very carefully to see how public opinion unfolds."

He said the prospect of Mrs Parker Bowles taking on a subsidiary title like Duchess of Cornwall, but not becoming Princess of Wales and then Queen was "not as easy as it sounds".

"There would have to be primary legislation to achieve such a result as that. Not only in this country but in all the other countries in which the Prince of Wales will supposedly be king," he added.

Last year, a poll indicated that more Britons support Prince Charles marrying Camilla Parker Bowles than oppose it.

Public opinion

Of those who responded to a Populus poll, 32% said they would support Charles if he remarried, while 29% were opposed.

However, most people - 38% - said they did not care, while 2% had no opinion.

Mrs Parker Bowles has joined the Prince at numerous engagements in recent years - mostly at evening events for The Prince's Trust.

Clarence House staff were at pains to point out that she attended these events in a private capacity.

But the impending wedding will now allow her to be at the Prince's side full-time in an official capacity.

the BBC report says she is divorced but they said on TV that her wedding was annulled because the presenter made such an issue about it cause Camilla has children and she was saying how can a wedding be annulled if they have children

A top aide confirmed the shock news to Reuters. Charles' office promised to announce more details of the wedding soon, which is expected to take place at Windsor Castle, west of London, on April 6.

Parker Bowles is the great love of Charles' life — the pair met in their 20s at a polo match — but the 58-year-old mother of two has faced an uphill struggle to rival his former wife, the late Princess Diana, in the public's affection.

Charles, 56, was divorced in 1996 from Diana, who blamed "rottweiler" Parker Bowles and the prying media for the break-up. Diana died in a Paris car crash in 1997.

Since then, and after years of choreographed appearances, Parker Bowles has been accepted as Charles' partner.

Charles is due to assume the throne after his mother Queen Elizabeth. As monarch, he would also assume a titular role as head of the Church of England, which is divided over the propriety of marrying divorcees.

Charles' sons William and Harry, in line to assume the throne after their father, have now accepted Parker Bowles, who shares official rooms with him at his London residence.

QUEEN CAMILLA?

"The issue is whether she will take the full style and title of Princess of Wales and whether any children would have any place in the succession," Dr David Starkey, historian and constitutional expert, told Reuters.

"She would have to take the status of Prince Charles and ultimately that of queen unless there is legislation passed to the contrary," he said.

Charles and Camilla had a two-year love affair after first meeting in 1971 but Camilla then married cavalry officer Andrew Parker Bowles, divorcing him in 1995.

Charles admitted in 1994 that he and Camilla had resumed their affair after his marriage had irretrievably broken down.

Diana memorably said on national television "there were three of us in the marriage, so it was a bit crowded," while he was secretly taped sharing intimate pillow talk with his lover.

Biographer Penny Junor said: "This will divide opinion and some people will think it is the end of the world. But once it has happened, people will accept it.

"He's very much in love with her and she with him. That's just the way it is."

Does the Church of England issue annulments? I thought divorce was the only option. They were married at the Guards Chapel, which isn't a Catholic church.

i dont know, im ashamed to say i dont know much about the rules of the church of england, or catholic church.

I have a question, its been said that the wedding will take place at Windsor castle, in the church, can they get married in a church if she is a divorcee? maybe thats why they are saying its been annulled so that they can get married

I have a question, its been said that the wedding will take place at Windsor castle, in the church, can they get married in a church if she is a divorcee?

The Church of England has relaxed its rules somewhat in recent years and is now prepared to marry divorcees if it's clear the previous marriage was beyond repair and if the new spouse wasn't involved in wrecking the first marriage of the divorced party. In this case, since Charles clearly was a factor in the breakup of Camilla's marriage, I don't know how they're rationalising it.

This is what the Church of England says about marriage of divorcees in church:

I just listened news in BBC, they said the couple will marry at 8 april in windsor castel. camilla will not be Queen camila but she will get title HRH duchess of cornwall and when Charles become King she will be HRH princess consort.

They are too old for this!!! Sorry people but in my humble opinion they both look so stupid!!!!! She is the most ugly woman that I ever saw in my whole life; honestly I can not understand what he sees on her.
I see what she sees on him but no way I can understand why on earth he is getting marry to a woman that!!!!!!

Anyway the whole idea gives me goosebumps......like a horror movie........oh my gosh!! she is so but sooooo ugly.

I really doesn't matter to me whether they get married or not. What I find interesting is that they found a way for him not to lose his right to succession. The Princess consort, eh? Is this the first time in British history that it is done?